Climate Change, Coffee and Canada

For BSUS 6600 students here is an interesting article  from the Toronto Star on the effects of climate change on Canadian business.

"Up to 60 per cent of the world’s coffee-growing regions will no longer be viable by 2050 thanks to climate change, according to a recent estimate from the Global Coffee Quality Research Initiative."

Canada does not grow coffee but the coffee example is relevant to Canadian agriculture. Think of the coffee example as the canary in the coal mine for agriculture. Even the Canadian Securities Administrators thinks there is cause for concern. According to CSA, here are some ways that climate change could affect business.

 • supply and distribution chain interruptions
 • unplanned costs, to address environmental accidents
 • loss of a license to operate
 • affordability and availability of insurance
 • changing consumer preferences

Canadian agriculture and shipping are two industries that could be particularly adversely affected.